Suicide Archives | Elizabeth May

Standing Committee on Health (HESA)

Craig Cantin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:14:57 +0000

The Standing Committee on Health has turned its attention to Bill C-300, An Act respecting a Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention. Brought forward by M.P. Harold Albrecht, the Bill seeks to increase awareness about suicide and how mental illness, social surroundings and pressures can lead individuals to committing suicide. Witnesses have included the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Department of Health, Public Health Agency of Canada and the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council among others. Denise Batters, wife of late former M.P. Dave Batters, attended the committee to provide her experience in hope of establishing a framework regarding suicide prevention.

The minutes for both meetings can be found here and here.

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Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act (D)

Craig Cantin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:18 +0000

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member neglected the evidence that was put forward by the emergency room physicians of Canada, who tracked an absolutely empirical data connection between the time which the long gun registry had been in effect and a reduction in suicides involving long guns? That seems to me to be very convincing evidence as it comes from the emergency room physicians themselves.

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Would the member comment on that?

David Sweet: Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that an emergency room physician was at committee. No compelling evidence was presented at committee regarding any increase or decrease as far as when the long gun registry came into effect. I think I made it very clear throughout my speech that there was no hard data and, frankly, no anecdotal data saying that the long gun registry had made Canadians safer.

I was in the public accounts committee in 2006 when the auditor general presented her report. At that time, she said that the accuracy of the data was to a point where it could actually endanger people. What I heard today from my colleague was that 4,400 firearms were stolen and were re-registered.

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Bill C-300 – An Act respecting a Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention

Craig Cantin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:25:50 +0000

The bill would establish the requirement for the Government of Canada to develop a federal framework for suicide prevention in consultation with the relevant non-governmental organizations, the relevant entity in each province and territory, as well as the relevant federal departments.

In Canada far too many lives are lost each year to suicide, almost 4,000, over 10 each day. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadian youth ages 10 to 24. Aboriginal youth suicide rates are especially troubling at five to seven times higher than the non-aboriginal rate. In Waterloo region’s high schools, three youths lost their lives to suicide in just one single week last year.

Suicide has a horrific impact: shortened lives, grieving families, devastated friends and even broken communities.

There is already lots of good work being done in suicide prevention across the country, but with some federal coordination and federal leadership, we can do better for vulnerable Canadians.

Seconded by Elizabeth May : n/a.

Click here for the entire document

Interventions in the House of Commons: October 28, 2011

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Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act

Craig Cantin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:22:50 +0000

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be the first recognized in what I am sure will be a fairly long list of members of Parliament who wish to congratulate the member for Kitchener—Conestoga for his leadership on this issue and for bringing forward the bill. I am very proud and look forward to being able to vote for it. I commend the member.

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Could the member set out further the really critical role for mental health strategies that are so severely lacking, particular for our youth?

Mr. Harold Albrecht: Mr. Speaker, my colleague called and wanted to second the bill. Unfortunately we already had 20 seconders. I thank her sincerely for her strong support.

If we take time to read the preamble and a number of points that are within the bill, what we are asking for is simply some coordination, national leadership and sharing of best practices. In our communities we all have great community groups already doing excellent work, but, without exception, they are calling out for some national leadership and visions and for the resources to help them do their job even better.

If we can get some of the research that is already being done and that is going to be commissioned out of the classroom and into the hands of people who are doing the work in the trenches, that is a good thing.

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